Aircraft, and sustaining rotors therefor



April 18, 1939. J. A. J. BENNETT AIRCRAFT AND SUSTAINING ROTORS THEREFOR Filed May 14, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l R O T E V W ATTORNEYJ April 18, 1939. J. A. J. BENNETT AIRCRAFT, AND susmmxue ROTORS THEREFOR Filed May l4, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \.INVE TOR BY 7 ATTORNEYS April 18, 1939.- J. A. J. BENNETT I 2,154,601

AIRCRAFT, AND SUSTAINING RQTORS THEREFOR Filed May 14. 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mva' TOR g BY ATTORNEYS April 18, 1939.

J. A. J. BENNETT AIRCRAFT, AND )SUSTAINING ROTORS THEREFOR Filed May 14, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AND sus'rsmmo ao'roas rnnnnron Application May 14, 1935, Serial No. 21,454

In Great Britain May 16, 1934 37 Olaima- (01. 24418) The present invention relates to aircraft, and sustaining rotors therefor, and particularly to aircraft in which the principal means of support in flight consists of a system of rotative wings or blades, hereinafter referred to as a rotor, mounted for free rotation about a substantially vertical axis and adapted for autorotation in flight under the influence of the flight wind, and in which means of forward propulsion are provided consisting of an engine driving an airscrew or the like propulsive device, together with means for imparting an initial rotation to the rotor, hereinafter referred to as a rotor starter, which may comprise a disconnectable driving connection between the said engine and the m tor adapted to apply a torque to said rotor.

. While the invention is not limited to a particular type of rotative winged aircraft, it is especially useful in a machine of the'above-described gen-- eral type, in which there is further provided some means for controlling the craft by means of the rotor, as, for example, by tilting the rotor in all directions to shift the lift line thereof; since such operation of the rotor gives adequate control under substantially allflying conditions, including both vertical descent and vertical take-off.

More particularly, the present invention refers to means for varying the pitch angles of the individual rotor blades, which means are 'responsive to the torque applied to the rotor through its hub or axis member in such a manner that theapplication of a driving torque, i. e., one tending to rotate the rotor in the normal direction of rotation causes a diminution of the blade pitch angle. The pitch varying means above referred to operate in such a manner that when a driving torque is applied to the rotor for starting purposes the pitch angle of the blades is substantially reduced, preferably to the value corresponding with zero lift or minimum rotational drag on the rotor and that on the vanishing of the impressed torque the blade pitch angles are automatically increased, being eventually restored to the normal value for flight, and for this purpose use is made of the centrifugal force experienced by the blade, the centrifugal force being applied to bring about the increase of blade pitch angle.

Various advantages are conferred by the present invention. For example, a more effective actionof the rotor starter is obtainable than is possible with prior arrangements; and allied with this the invention further contemplates improvement in the take-oil and particularly a substantially vertical take-off of the aircraft. By

reducing the pitch angle of the rotor blades substantially to that of zero lift during the application of the starting torque, the aerodynamic resistance of the blades is reduced "to its mini- 5 mum value whereby a largely increased speed of initial rotation can be imparted to the rotor without increased expenditure of power, and on. disappearance of the starting torque, as by-disengaging a starter clutch, the pitch angle of the 10 rotor blades immediately increases and the excess energy stored in the rotor by reason of itsextra speed is immediately available for conversion into lift whereby to raise the aircraft off the ground. a Hitherto, in aircraft of the autorotative-win type, the rotor blades have been attached to the hub member by means of a "double-articulation comprising a primary or flapping articulation with its axis substantially at right angles to the 20 rotor axis and to the longitudinal axis of the blade and a secondary or drag articulation with its axis substantially at right angles to the primary articulation axis, the longitudinal axis of the blade being arranged substantially at right 25 angles to the axes of. both the flapping and drag articulations.

This construction is utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention according to which, however, a third articulation is intro- 30 duced, its axis being substantially at right angles to the primary articulation but inclined with respect to the longitudinal blade axis and'with relation to the secondary articulation.

The axis of the third articulation is inclined 35 outwardly and upwardly with reference to the axis of the drag articulation, sov that the blade in swinging about the inclined" articulation describes a cone with vertex downwards. The result of this is that as the blade is displaced back- 40 wards on the inclined articulation, i.- e., against the direction of rotation of the rotor, the pitch angle of the blade is decreased.

.The arrangement of the triply articulated blade, attachment is further such that while 45 movement of the blade on the inclined articulation occurs when a torque, either driving or braking, is applied to the rotor. and during recovery of the normal flying position after the torque has ceased to be applied, the movement on the 50 inclined articulation in normal flight is nil, or at least small relatively to the possible movement.

Preferably this is achieved by. providing a greater frictional resistance to movement about 55 the inclined articulation than about the drag articulation at least when the rotational speed of the rotor exceeds a certain value and by the use of suitable stops limiting the possible movement on the drag articulation to about the amplitude of oscillation of the individual blades in' normal flight maneuvers, which is of the order of 1.5 on either side of the mean position. The drag articulation stops donot prevent movement about the inclined articulation, other stops being provided for this purpose, these latter stops serving respectively to transmit the driving torque of the starter and the braking torque of the rotor brake for slowing down the rotor on landing, if the aircraft is provided with such a rotor brake.

The operation of the inclined articulation will now be described.

When torque is applied to the rotor hub from the engine for starting, the inertia and drag of the blade cause it to rotate around the drag articulation. The angular displacement around the drag articulation being limited by stops, rotation of the blade about the drag articulation ceases when the blade has moved through a small angle as defined by the drag articulation stops.

Thereafter the blade moves around the inclinedarticulation and describes a conical surface, the blade pitch angle being thereby reduced. When the required reduction in blade pitch angle has been effected the blade reaches a stop and is held in this position by the moments attributable to the drag, the inertia of the blade and the hinge friction.

The blades are accelerated in this position to a rotational speed'much greater than in normal flight. This is made possible by the decreased blade drag consequent on the reduction of blade pitch angle which is preferably zero (1. e., the lift coefllcient k1. is zero) when the blade is on the rear stop of the inclined articulation. When the required R. P. M. rotor is declutched from the engine, the blades now rotating at zero torque. The centrifugal force on the blades causes the hub to swing around relatively to the blades, the moment R of the centrifugal force being greater than the inclined ,hinge'friction moment F. The blade are still higher than pitch angle is therefore suddenly increased to its normal value whilst the R. P. M. of the rotor in normal flight. Consequently the aircraft rises vertically or quickly from the ground.

During the interval of time from the instant the blades are declutched until the rotor R. P. M. have decreased to their value for normal flight, the propulsive airscrew can be used to accelerate the aircraft to the required forward speed to give maximum rate of climb.

The drag moment'and the inertia moment being respectively designated by D and I, the following relations obtain between the various moments during the above described operation.

(a) When positive torque is being applied and while the blade is rotating backwards on the inclined articulation and the blade pitch angle is decreasing, (D+I) F (b) When the blade is against the rear stop of the inclined articulation, (D+I+F) R After declutching, when the blade leaves the inclined articulation stop, R F

Besides enabling a quick "take-off" to be made, the inclined articulation, as embodied in the present case, presents other advantages as' follows:

have been reached the' until the forward stop is reached. The aircraft is then subjected to a greater lift, at the expense of rotor R. P. M. This maneuver is useful for the purpose of decreasing the vertical speed of descent when landing, and since it sets up a torque reaction upon the body of the craft, a counteractant should be employed, such as a rudder located within the propeller slipstream.

The satisfaction in all cases of relations (a), (b) and (0) may be secured by suitably choosing the values of the frictional moment F and the centrifugal moment R, the drag and inertia moments being already determined by the basic The frictional moment is design of the rotor. susceptible of variation in a number of ways, e. g., by the use of adjustable friction dampers or merely by suitable choice of the kind and flt of the bearing used, or by combinations thereof, while three methods are available for varying the centrifugal moment, viz:

(I) Varying the position of the drag articulation stops,

(II) Varying the position ofthe inclined articulation stops,

. (III) Varying the offsets of one or both of the inclined and drag articulations from the rotor axis,

as the centrifugal moment when the blade is' experiencing the driving torque depends on its angular displacementsfrom the normal position about the inclined articulation (backwards) and about the drag articulation and also on the dis-' tances separating the inclined and drag articulations from the rotor axis; The frictional moment F of the inclined articulation being greater thanthat (hereinafter denoted by f) 01' the drag articulations, it follows that as the centrifugal moment R increases during the acceleration of the rotor, the blade will leave the backward stop of the drag articulation and swing onto the forward drag'stop if and when R exceeds (D+I+f) which value is less than (D+I+F) so that the blade will still remain on the back stop of the inclined articulation. In this position R depends on the backward displacement of the blade about the inclined articulation and the forward dlsplacement about the drag articulation. Thus, the determination of R to satisfy relations (b) and (c) is affected not only by the position of the backstop of the inclined articulation but also by that of the forward stop of the drag articulation, and by a suitable choice of the angular position of the inclined articulation back stop and of the angular freedom of the blade between the forward and back stops of the drag articulation the desired results is obtained of keeping the blade on the inclined articulation back stop, so that minimum pitch angle is maintained, during the acceleration of the rotor (relation (bTahd tions, such as the oscillation of the blade in its plane of rotation in normal flight maneuvers, enter into the choice of angular freedom about the drag articulation and the choice of position of the-backstop of the inclined articulation may be limited by structural andother considerations, these choices may be supplemented by a suitable choice of articulation offsets, as referred to above under (III).

To ensure a correct yalue at all times of the frictional moment about the inclined articulation,

the lubricant used therein is preferably one whose frictional properties are substantially unaffected.

by changes of temperature, lapse of time and the like circumstances.

i e As the blade swings forward aboutthe inclined articulation when the driving torque has ceased, the centrifugal moment It decreases until 'a position is reached in which the friction moment F equals the centrifugal moment It audit is advantageous so to choose the frictional moment that this occurs when the blade pitch angle is substantially less than that required for normal flight, as the efficiency of the rotor at low forward translational speeds is greater when the blade pitch angle is relatively small. As the aircraft increases its forward speed, the flapplng" on the primary articulation (which is relatively freer of friction, or, other resistance, than-either cf the other articulations) sets up oscillatory aerodynamic moments acting on the blade in the plane of rotation which are augmented by the centrifugal moment to a greater extent in the forward direction than in the backward direction,

in which latter direction the aerodynamic and centrifugal moments may even be in opposition, with the result that the blade while oscillating about the drag articulation is swung forwards about the inclined articulation until the centrifugal moment about the latter disappears altogether in which position the blade pitch angle is the normal one for flight, and thereafter the inclined articulation is substantially locked by friction.

Although the stops of the drag articulation are spaced widely enough to allow the normal oscillation in the plane of rotation in flight to take place about the drag articulation, any excessive oscillation will involve the inclined articulation (which because of its angularity permits of some blade movement in the directions of drag and acceleration as well as in the directions of pitch variation) and this, on account of its superior friction, serves to damp such excessive oscillations effectively. It is preferable to endow the drag articulation with a certain amount of friction independent of rotational speed provided this friction in the drag articulation is substantially equal to or less than that part of the friction in the inclined articulation which is independent of rotational speed. This is especially required when the aircraft is on the ground and the rotor is being accelerated or decelerated, during which operations the rotor speed must in general pass through a value which is in resonance with the natural transverse frequency of the undercarriage.

In further explanation, it may be pointed out that the frictional resistance in both articulations will in general increase with rotational speed on account of increased bearing loading resulting from centrifugal force and more particularly in the inclined articulation of the type hereinafter described having a hearing which is self-tightening under end loading.

It is preferable to provide the inclined articulations with forward stops set to limit the maximum increase of blade pitch angle to that required for normal (high-speed) flight.

'Constructionally the inclined articulation may be separate from the drag articulation, the root attachment of the blade including two articulation links; or the drag and inclined articulation may be combined in various ways, as by arranging them on intersecting centers and using a single member as one of the essential elements of both articulations.

' The friction of the inclined articulation may be introduced in a variety of ways, for example, either by using a bearing having in itself enough friction or by the use of additional friction dampers which may be adjustable, or by combinations of various devices.

According to a further feature ofthe invention, use is made of the centrifugal force to increase the. bearing friction of the inclinedarticulation as by employing a conical or other tapered bearing arranged to carry the end thrust caused by the component of centrifugal force acting along the axis of the hearing, so that the bearing is thereby tightened and its overall frictional coefficient increased.

How the foregoing objects, advantages, and principles of operation, are put into effect by the present invention will be evident in the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an aircraft, having rotative blades or wings, embodying one form of the present invention, a portion of the craft being broken away for illustration ofsome of the flying controls;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale, through a blade root articulation, along the axis of one of the rotor blades of the machine shown,

of Figure 2, illustrating the stop devices for controlling blade movement about the dragpivot;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of articulation, in which the drag'andinclined pivots are structurally combined and a tapered form of inclined pivot is employed as a means of varying the resistance to blade pivotation withvariation in rotor speed, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modified form of blade limiting stop on the inclined pivot as well as an adjustable friction device to vary the resistance to pivotation of the blade on one or more of the pivots. By reference first to Figure 1 it will be seen that I have illustrated an aircraft 8 having an engine and propeller 9, l0, undercarriage H, I2,

vertical tail surfacing l3, H, rudder l5, and

This rotor comprises elongated blades or wings II which are pivotally mounted, by mechanism illustrated in one or more of the other figures of the drawings, upon a central upright hub or 5 axis member l9 which is normally freely rotatable about the upright non-rotating spindle or shaft 20, said shaft or non-rotative axis member 20 being tiltably carried by means of longitudinal and transverse fulcrums- 2| and 22,.re- 10 spectively, upon a rigid fixed pylon formed of a plurality of struts or legs 23, 24, or the like. The initial rotation of the rotor prior to take-off may be imparted by the mechanism nowto be described. v 15 A shaft25 extends rearwardly from the engine 9 to a gear-and-clutch box 25, and may embody a couple of universal joints, indicated at 21. The rotor starter clutch need not be illustrated herein, as it is now well known, but I have shown I 20 a clutch operating lever 28, connected by a link 29 to the operating handle 30 in the cockpit 3|. Extending upward from the casing or housing 26 is a shaft 32 which has a combined universal and slip -joint 33 near its upper end, and may 35' have a similar universal joint (not shown) at or near its lower end. At its upper end this shaft 32 drives a pinion 34 through the medium of a shaft mounted in the bearing casing 35 which is secured rigidly to the fixed axis member 20. go The'pinion 34 is in constant mesh with a ring gear 35 fixed on the rotor hub l9. It will be seen that the universal and slip joint mechanism in the shaft 32 accommodates the tilting motions of the rotor hub when the same is moved a in the manner immediately hereinafter described. Bearingcasing 35 may also include a small overrunning clutch or other free wheeling I device, so as to assure free rotation of the rotor in flight if for any reason the manual clutch operating lever 30 should be. left in the engaged position.

For controlling the machine the axis x-a: of the rotor is shifted, by tilting the hub. Longitudinal tilt (for longitudinal control of the craft) 45 is effected, about the fulcrum 22, by means of the lever 31, which is actuated by the push and pull rod 38, extreme forward tilt of the rotor being indicated by the dot and dash position of the blades, shown at l8a, and extreme rearward o tilt being indicated by the outline of the blades at l8b, although it will be understood that the blades in these positions as well as in the full line positions shown, are at their angle of rest. In actual flight the blades cone up somewhat to 5 an average position diagrammatically indicated at l3. .Lateral tilt is obtained in a similar manner by rocking the hub about the fulcrum 2|, by means of a lateral arm (not shown, but similar to the longitudinal arm 31) which is 60 actuated by means of a push and pull rod 39. This lateral control rod 39 is connected by a lateral crank arm ,4llto the torque tube 4|, and the longitudinal control rod 38 is connected by a lateral crank arm 49 to the torque .tube 4|,

65 and the longitudinal control rod 38 is connected 3 .by a bell crank 42, mounted on a fixed fulcrum 43, to a push and pull rod 44, the members 4| and 44 being connected in the usual manner 70 to the control stick 45 in the cockpit. For additional explanation of such mechanismn-eference may be had to the copending applications Serial No. 645,985, filed December 6, 1932 and Serial No.. 738,349, filed 7 August 3. 1934 and to their corresponding British pitch, as hereinbefore patent specifications, the first of which bears issue No. 393,976,. and the second, No. 420,322. As is now k'nown'in this art, all normal maneuvers of the craft may be obtained by thus controlling the inclination of the rotor, in co- 5 operation with the-weathercock effect of the fixed tail surfaces. However, a rudder l5 actuated by means of rudder pedals 46, cables 41 and control horns- 48, may be employed, particularly to counteract any turning effect inthe body of the machine when making a descent and applying the rotor brake for the purpose of throwing the blades to their extreme positive mentioned. The rotor brake may be of the internal expanding type, now known in this art, the operating lever of which is shown at 49. Turning now to Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that the root end 50 of the blade spar (which usually runs throughout the length of the blade, along its longitudinal axis) is secured to or mounted upon the hub I9 by pivot mechanism, preferably comprising a series of three pivot pins or axes of articulation 5|, 52 and 53;

the blade l8, when in its normal mid position on all of these pivots, being at a good average autorotational incidence. Pivot 5| secures the drag link'54 to one or more lugs or ears 55 which are integral with the hub 19. This pivot is the flapping pivot, which permits the blade to swingup and down to positions of equilibrium betwe'en the 1m and centrifugal forces and relieves or eliminates bending and gyroscopic forces, and can also serve to eliminate a large proportion of the undesirable loads which would otherwise be imposed upon the rotor controls. To accomplish these results to the fullest extent it has. been found desirable to place this pivot relatively close to the center of rotation of the hub, and furthermore to reduce its friction, especially the static friction, to a minimum. It will thus be seen that I have placed this pivot at the innermost position of the three articulative joints, and have fitted needle bearings between the pivot and the apertured root end of the drag link which receives the same. Downward droop of the rotor blade is arrested by contact of the abutment or surface 54a of the drag link with the'surface l9a of the top flange of the hub. Excessive upward movement of the blade (as by wind gusts when the rotor is at rest on the ground) is prevented by contact of the drag link surface 54b with the surface Nb of the hub flange. The total range of angular movement permitted about the pivot 5| may be around 55 30 to 40, most of which is in the upward or positive coning direction. The outer end of'the drag link 54is vertical- 1y apertured to receive the secondary or drag pivot 52, which may be held in place by any suitable device such as the pin 51. As an intermediate member or link (which might be termed the pitch link") between the drag pivot and the inclined pitch ,varying pivot, I have provided an arm or member 58, which may be in the form of an H section forging with web 58a and flanges 58b (see Fig. 3);. the inner end of this member being forked to, embrace the upper and lower faces of the drag link, and the Jaws 59 and 3| of the fork beingrecessed to house the tapered 7 roller bearings BI, 62, 53, and BI 52'. 63", located at the ends 55 of the drag pivot 52. This drag bearing assembly is, completed'by the caps or covers 54, retainingnuts' 65; and spacing rings 66, which latter aregrounddown to the right thickness to position the inner roller races Bi and BI accurately. While. this makes a goodbeing only about 3, and this is determined by the clearance between the forward and rearward stops 54c, 54d (formed by the vertical slot in the outer end of drag link 51) with relation to the vertical web 58a of member 58 (as seen in Figure 5).

The outer end of the member 58 is in the form of a boss 58c, bored at an oblique angle (about 60) with respect to the drag pivot axis, to receive a bearing bushing 61 in which is rotatably mounted the inclined or pitch-varying pin or axle 53, which latter is flanged adjacent its outer end, as at 58, for attachment by bolts or other suitable means to the wing root flange 69. The axle or pivot 53 is retained against centrifugal force by a split collar ill, which is locked by its integral keys H, with the pivot member 53, and is clamped thereon by a nut 12, retained in any suitable way, as by a set screw 13 and snap ring it to secure the set screw in place. To complete this hearing arrangement, the flange 10a of the split collar abuts against a flange 61a of the bearing bushing. The pivot member 53 carries an external flange 53a which is notched or cutaway at 53b (see Figure 4) to accommodate, with some clearance, the heads of a pair of studs it, it, which are mounted in the outer end of the box 580, to form forward and rearward stops for the blade incidence adjustment which takes place by the rotation of the pivot or axle member 53. Suitable set screws ll may be provided to lock these limiting stops in place. The clearance between the surfaces 53b and the two stop devices should provide a total angular rotation of about 16 for the pivot 53 in its bearing tl. Because of the use of a plain bearing bushing at this articulation, it is endowed with a greater friction than the articulation about the drag pivot.

In the modification shown in 6, the drag link Ede is conically bored at it to receive a bushing 119 in which is mounted a member 8t, common to both the drag and inclined articulations. This member all is vertically bored at at, to receive a bushing 82 in which is mounted the drag pivot pin 83; and the blade root or socket member 50a is forked at 84, 85, to embrace the drag link and the block or pivot member 80, the jaws of the fork being apertured to receive the drag pivot pin 83. It will be observed that the axis y-y of the conical hearing which receives the member is inclined upwards and outwards at an angle 01 about 50 to the drag pivot axis zz, and lies in the same vertical plane as the latter and intersects it on the center line of the blade spar. The vertical angle of the conical bearing is approximately 9 and the vertex is upwards, with the result that the bearing pressure and hence the friction of the conical'bearing is increased by and in accordance with the centrifugal force developed by, the blade, and thus varies with variations in rotational speed; whereasthe drag articulation has relatively little friction, under all conditions of operation. Stop devices for motions about these pivots are not illustrated in this figure, although it will be understood that ranges of clearance similar to those employed in the construction of Figure 2 may be used.

shown in Figure 2 may be adaptedto embody adjustable resistance mechanism, for regulating the resistance to blade pivotation or oscillation and for varying the differential resistance between any two of the articulating devices, particularly the drag articulation and the pitch changing articulation.

For this purpose, the Jaw 59 of the second or outboard link 58, may be provided with a flange 86 to which is secured the casing or housing 81 or a shock absorber or damper, as by rivets 88.

The drag pivot 52 may be extended upwardly, at

52a, centrally through the casing 81. The extension 52a of pin 52' is slotted at $9 to receive the tongues of pressure plates all, 9!, and intermediate plates 92. Another set of blades 93 have tongues which fit in slots 96 formed in the shell 8?. Friction plates suitably of some asbestos composition, are placed betwedn the operating plates. The pressure can be adjusted to the desired degree by meansof an adjusting nut t6 which may be retained in place by a lock nut 91. A rubber washer 98 serves to maintain constant pressure on the disks, to take care of slight wear, and to make accommodation for discrepancies or irregularities in the surface of the plates at different positions.

The damping device associated with the inclined pivot is similar to that just described, and

77 5 V By reierence to Figure 7 it willbe observedthat an arrangement generally similar to that which is integral with the structure it, We (on the one hand), and. the internal tubular pivot member 53 (on the other hand). In this form,

the stop device for limiting the pivotation oi the wing on the inclined pivot, y take the form oi a pin at extending through the pivot member as and wormng in an elongated slot ltd formed in the wall of the boss tide. One otthe reasons for, shifting the location of the stop device is .to leave a convenient and advantageous location for mounting the damper or friction adjusting device, which, when. so located (at the outboard end of the pivot member) is unaffected, in its adjustment, by the variations in centrifugal force, which are taken at the inboard end by the thrust bearing, which is similar to that described with reference to Figure 2. Y

I'claim: I

1. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, an upright rotatable hub, an elongated blade or extending approximately radially therefrom, and mechanism mounting the blade on the hub comprising a substantially horizontal pivot, a substantially vertical pivot, and a pivot inclined at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

2. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable hub, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism mounting the blade on the hub comprising a flapping articulation, a drag articulation, and a pitch changing articulation, the pivot .axes of said three articulations being disposed at angles to the longitudinal axis of the blade whereby the centrifugal force acting upon the blade during rotation of the rotor positively affects the pivotation of the blade on all three articulations.

3. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a normally ireely-rotative hub, an elongated blade or wing positioned normally at autorotative incidence, mechanism mounting the blade on the hub including a pivot axis so disposed as to accommo- 6 2,154,001 ,rection of rotation, a pivot axis so disposed as mounting the blade on the hub including a tap-- to accommodate blade oscillations chiefly foreered pivot or bearing positioned with its greater and-aft within the general rotative path and a diameter nearer the center of rotation so as to pivot axis so disposed as to accommodate blade tighten automatically with increase of centrig oscillations in the sense of pitch variation, and fugal force of rotation of the rotor. means setting up greater resistance to blade piv- 11. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable otation about the second pivot axis than about hub, a blade or wing, and pivot mechanism for the flrst and still greater resistance to pivotation mounting the blade on the hub including a series about the third of the three pivot axes. of three pivots intermediate the blade root and 10 fii ln an aircraftsustaining rotor, a rotatable the hub axis and each angled to the longitudinal 10 hub, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism blade axis, the centers of the three being spaced mounti'ngthe blade on the hub including a pludifferent distances from the hub axis. I rality; of-pivots with their bearings, one pivot 12. man aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable t-providing a-blade flapping axis and another an hub, a blade or wing, and pivot mechanism for axis angled-thereto and to the blade axis, the mounting the blade on the hub including a series 15 a rticulative bearing itself at the latter of said of three pivots intermediate the blade root and pivots having a substantially greater frictional the hub axis, the centers of the three being spaced resistance to movement of the blade than exists diiferent distances from'the hub axis and their at theflrst mentioned of the said pivots. axes being angled with respect to one another and g 5', In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable to the longitudinal axis of the blade. 2

- hyb, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism 13. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable mounting the blade on the hub including a pluhub, a blade or wing, and pivot mechanism for rality of pivots, one of said pivots providing for mounting the blade on the hub including a series bodily swinging of the blade to accommodate of three pivots intermediate the blade root and 253 variable flight loads, and another of said pivots thehub axis, the three pivot devices being spaced :5

being obliquely angled with respect to the longidifl'erent distances from the hub axis, and all of tudinal axis of the blade to provide for variation the pivot axes as well as said hub axis' being at 0; the pitch of the blade. and means limiting the angles to the longitudinal blade axis. angular movement of the blade about the first 14. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable o} mentioned pivot to a range smaller than the hub, a blade or wing, and pivot mechanism for go angular movement of the blade about the second mounting the blade on the hub including a series mentioned pivot. of three pivots intermediate the blade root and 8. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable the hub axis, the axes of the three being spaced h an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism diiferent'distances from the hub axis, all of whichmounting the blade on the hub including a pluhave their axes at angles to the longitudinal blade rality oi pivots, one of said pivots providing for axis and to one another. bodily swinging oi the blade to accommodate, 15. In an aircraft of the character described, variable flight loads, and another of said pivots a propeller, a normally autorotative sustaining I being obliquely angled with respect to the longirotor having a plurality of blades, means for f tudinal axis of the blade to provide for variation shifting the general plane of rotation of the of the pitch of the blade, means setting up a subblades so as to shift the lift line of the rotor with stantially greater resistance to pivotation of the respect to the center of gravity of the ma blade on the latter pivot than on the former, and whereby adequate control is obtained even means limiting the angular movement of the ing substantially vertical flight operations, means blade about the flrst mentioned pivot to a range for imparting a driving torque to the rotor, a 4| smaller than the angular movement of the blade brake for the rotor, means responsive to the apabout the second mentioned pivot. I plication of driving torque for reducing the pitch 7. In an aircraft usta ning r or, a rotatable or the blades and responsive to cessation of the hub, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism driving torque or application of a braking torque mounting the blade on the hub including a plu to increase said pitch, whereby substantially verrality of pivots, one of said pivots providing for tical flight operations are obtained, and a conbodily swinging of the blade to accommodate trollable rudder substantially in line .with the variable flight loads, and another of said pivots propeller axis andcenter of gravity of the craft providing for variation of the pitch of the blade, whereby under the influence of the propeller said pivots being positioned with their axes interslipstream the reactive torque in the body of the secting each other and the longitudinal ,blade. craft resulting by application of the rotor drive axi v or brake for vertical flight operations may be 8. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable counteracted, without setting up appreciable rollhub, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism ing moments from said rudder.

mounting the blade on the hub including a'plu- 16, A sustaining rotor having a hub, a pluto rality of pivots, one or said pivots providing for 'rality of blades, and for mounting each blade bodily swinging of the blade to accommodate upon the hub a flapping pivot, a drag pivot, and variable flight loads; and another of said pivots a pitch varying pivot obliquely inclined to the providing for variation of the pitchof the blade, longitudinal axis of the blade, and stop means said pivots being obliquely'angled oneto the other, for limiting the "range of blade movement on all 05 on bodily intersecting centers. I three pi'vots, said stop means providing the great- 9. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable est range for the flappi g motion and the least hub, an elongated blade or wing,jand pivot mechrange for the motion on the drag pivot.

anism for mounting the'blade on the hub com-.- 17. A sustaining rotor having a hub, a plurality 7o prising two pivot members, one.of which is mountof blades, and for mounting each blade upon the ed to turn on one axis and is bored at an angley hub a flapping pivot, a drag ,pivot, and a pitchoblique to said axis to rotatably receive the other varying pivot, obliquely inclined'to the longitudipivot member. -nal axis of the blade the flapping pivot being 10. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable closest to the axis of the-rotor and having the m l bl or wing, and pivot mechanism for least resistance'topivotation, the pivot be re I mg farther removed from the rotor axis and having a greater resistance to pivotation, and the pitch varying pivot being still further removed from the rotor axis and having the greatest resistance to pivotation.

18. A sustaining rotor having a hub, a plurality of blades, and for mounting each blade upon the hub a flapping pivot, a drag pivot, and a pitch varying pivot obliquely inclined to the longitudinal axis of the blade, the flapping pivot being closest to the axis of the rotor and having the least-resistance to pivotation, the drag pivot being farther removed from the rotor axis and having a greater resistance to pivotation, and the pitch varying pivot being still further removed from the rotor axis and having the greatest resistance to pivotation, and means for varying the resistance to pivotation about at least one of said pivots.

19. A sustaining rotor having a hub, a plurality of blades, and for mounting each blade upon the hub a flapping pivot, a drag pivot, and a pitch varying pivot obliquely inclined to the longitudinal axis of the blade, the flapping pivot being closest to the axis of the rotor and having the least resistance to pivotation, the drag pivot being farther removed from the rotor am's and having a greater resistance to pivotation, and the pitch varying pivot being still further removed from the rotor axis and having the greatest resistance to pivotation, and means for varying the relative resistance to blade pivotation about the drag pivot and pitch varying pivot.

20. In an aircraft sustaining rotor of the kind referred to, a hub member having a generally upright rotational axis, and mechanism for the attachment of the roots of the rotor blades to the hub member by means including a flapping pivot whose axis lies substantially ina plane perpendicular to the rotational axis, a drag pivot permitting the blade to swing relatively to the hub in the general plane of rotation, the axes of both said pivots being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal blade axis, and a third pivot whose axis is inclined with respect to the longitudinal blade axis.

21. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim wherein the third pivot axis of the blade I root attachment is inclined outwardly and upwardly with respect to the drag pivot axis.

22. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20 wherein the triply articulated blade root attachment includes a construction which effects movement, of the blade about -.the inclined pivot when a torque, either driving or braking, is applied to the rotor and during recovery of normal flying position of the blade on cessation of such torque, but materially restricts the movement on said inclined pivot in normal flight.

23. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20 wherein the frictional resistance to movement about the inclined pivot is greater than that about the drag pivot at least when the rotational speed of the rotor exceeds a certain value, which is lessthan the normal rotational speed in flight.

24. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20 wherein there are stop means limiting theblade movement about thejdrag pivot to a total amplitude'not substantially exceeding the amplitude of individual blade oscillation'in the general plane of rotation in normal flight maneuvres.

25. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim'20, wherein there are stop means positioned to limit the blade movement about the inclined pivot and to transmit 'a torque reaction,

either driving or braking, between the hub memher and the blades.

26. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20, wherein the inclined pivot has a conical plain bearing with the vertex so directed that the centrifugal force of theblade when rotating increases the bearing pressure and consequently the friction of the bearing. a

2'7. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20 having non-reactive dampers applied to both the drag and inclined blade pivots, the dampers of the drag pivots being adapted to im-'- pose less resistance than those of the inclined pivots.

28. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20, wherein the drag pivots are provided with ball or roller bearings and the inclined pivots with plain bearings.

29'. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20 wherein the Ofi'SttS from the rotor axis of the intersections with the longitudinal. blade axis of the drag and inclined pivot axes are equal, the drag and inclined pivot means being arranged on intersecting centers.

30. An aircraft sustaining rotor according to claim 20, in which a drag link extends outwardly from the flapping pivot, and the drag and inclined pivots are combined, there being a loose bush rotatable on the drag linlr about the inclined pivot axis and on the blade root abbut the drag pivot axis.

31. In an autorotatable sustaining rotor, an upright hub adapted to be power driven prior to takemd, a blade, mechanism mounting the blade on the hub comprising a flapping pivot, a drag pivot and a pitch varying pivot making an acute angle with the longitudinal blade axis at the upper side of the blade and outer side of the pivot, stop means limiting the range of angular movement about the pitch pivot, and stop means limiting to a smaller range the angular movement about the drag pivot.

32. In an autorotatable sustaining rotor, an upright hub adapted to be power driven prior to take-01f, a blade, mechanism mounting the blade on the hub comprising a flapping pivot, a drag pivot and a pitch varying pivot making an acute angle with the longitudinal blade axis at the upper side of the blade and outer side of the pivot, stop means limiting the range of angular movement about the pitch pivot, and stop means limiting to a smaller range the angular movement about the drag pivot, the stop means for the pitch and drag pivots being so located on the blade mounting mechanism that the blade is at substantially zero lift pitch when it is in its maximum lagging position against the rearward limiting stops.

33. In an autorotatable sustaining rotor, an upright hub adapted to be power driven prior to take-off, a blade, mechanism mounting the blade on the hub comprising a flapping pivot, a drag pivot and a pitch varying pivot making an acute stantially zero lift pitch when it is in its maximum lagging position against the, rearward limiting stops, and means setting upgreater resistance to blade movement about the pitch pivot than about the drag pivot.

34. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a rotatable hub, an elongated blade or wing, and mechanism mounting the blade on the hub including a plurality of pivot devices positioned to accommodate lag and lead motions of the blade, one of said pivcot devices providing for such motions of the blade to accommodate the normal variable flight forces, and another of said pivot devices being obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade to provide for variation of the pitch thereof, the latter pivot device having a greater resistance to pivotation ofthe blade thereabout than exists at the former of said pivot devices.

35. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a hub, an autorotatable blade, and pivot mechanism securing said blade to said hub including a pivot having its axis obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade, with bearing means for said pivot subject to variable thrust under varying rotational speeds of the rotor owing to the obliquity of said pivot, and a resistance device arranged co-axial with said pivot and con-' structed to set up resistance to pivotal movement of the blade about said pivot axis independently of the load on said bearing means whereby the 'resistance of said device is unafl'ected by variations in thrust on said bearing means.

36. In an aircraft sustaining rotor, a hub. a

blade and pivots connecting the blade with the hub, the pivots including two pivots having their axes intersecting a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and spect to the longitudinal blade axis.

37. In an aircraft having a rotative hub and sustaining blades mounted thereon, a hinge mounting forthe' individual blades on said hub comprising a plurality of pivotal axes oflset relative to the system's center and angularly disposed relative to the system's plane of rotation and to eachother, one of said axes being more offset than the other, and stops limiting the pivotal movement of the outer of these axes about the inner axis.

JAMES ALLAN JAMIESON BENNETT.

difierentially angled with re- 

